A tower technician was rescued from a broadcast tower in Rockford, Illinois, on Monday (August 10) afternoon after suffering from a dehydration-related medical emergency.

WTVO reported that the climber was working on a tower at WTVO-TV/WQRF-TV, when he needed rescuing at 275 feet (83 meters) above the ground.

The climber was carrying out a routine equipment inspection of the tower when he began experiencing a medical issue, reported to be dehydration.

First responders from Rockford Fire and Northwest Fire Protection District were called to 1917 N. Meridian Road at 3:05 pm to help bring the climber down.

It was a further three hours later that the man, who has not been named, was rescued at just after 6 pm. Officials said the man was conscious throughout, reported WTVO.

Rescue efforts took longer due to rain and the threat of storms in the area on Monday.

The man was taken to hospital and remains in a stable condition.

Tower technicians often work in a range of extreme weather conditions across all four seasons. A number of tower technicians, past and present, detailed some of the challenges of the profession in the latest edition of DCD>Magazine.